THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3736, 15 December 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1880.

It is a pity that upon such an auspicious occasion as the installation of a new Mayor any remarks should have been made-by Councillors other than complimentary upon the conduct of the retiring Chairman of the Council. Especially is it a matter for regret that the first act of the newly-installed Mayor should he to censure his predecessor. It will be found from our report of the annual meeting of the Borough Council, called for the purpose of installing the Mayor, that Cr McGowan characterised the absence of the retiring Mayor (Mr Ehrenfried) as a breach of etiquette, and that His Worship Mr Wilkinson immediately endorsed that gentleman's opinion. We are somewhat surprised that common-sense McGowan should have so far erred, but our surprise is greater that the new Mayor showed such bad taste as to endorse such uncomplimentary remarks. In fact the speeches of both gentlemen can only by characterised as impertinent, and as quite un-called for. In the first place it is not a part, of the duty of a retiring Mayor to install his successor or even to be present, and in the second place if Mr Ehrenfried had business to take Him elsewhere it was a breach of etiquette for anyone to reflect upon his conduct. We say it is matter for regret that any such remarks as referred to were made, and a little reflection will even convince the gentleman, that we are reluctantly obliged to censure, to see that an error was made, and an absent citizen unnecessarily found fault with.